The New Iron Sphalerite Flotation Activator Pilot Study

Activation of marmatite is one of the difficulties in separating multi-element sulfide. The content of iron in the marmatite is about 7% in Lancang Lead Mine,the content of iron in the marmatite is up to 20% in Wenshan Dulong plant in Yunnan province. Moreover, the useful elements associate in a complicated way. It is one of the great difficults in mineral engineering. So, it is meaningful to research activating the low and high iron marmatite by a new activator of X-41 under the low alkali condition.The flotation of low iron marmatite in Lancang and high iron marmatite in Dulong is representive on t mineral engineering. Lancang low iron marmatite and pyrrhotite as well as other gangue associate in a complicated way.The Dulong marmatite ore has a great content of iron. It has many useful elements and rare-elements. The present paper mainly begins from the marmatite mineral activation question, to expect found to verify X-41 to be highly effective also to have the selective activator to achieve enhances the zinc ore concentrate the recovery goal, thus concentrates for the indium dressing with the following metallurgy withdraws prepares for premise.The test specimen with the low and high iron marmatite achievement, through single froth tube (namely Hallimond tube) system research Cu2+, NH4+, Pb2+, Ag+ and one kind of new activator called X-41 to marmatite activation effect. The results indicates that the initial flotability of low and high iron marmatite is very low and it could not be gained by single collector. The traditional marmatite's activators such as Cu2+,NH4+,Pb2+,Ag+ can not activate marmatite effictively. A new activator of marmatite called X-41 can and make the flotational recovery up to 67.2% of the low iron marmatite,and make the flotational recovery up to 71.8% of the high iron marmatite. It superior to those activators such as Cu2+,NH4+,Pb2+,Ag+obviously.Flotation tests of Lancang and Dulong spot ores is carried though in lab. The results approve the conclusions of pure mineral tests furtherly. The new activator called X-41 replaces Copper sulfate to activate marmatie. It has great selectivity, can activate on low pH. In a same flowsheet, the replace of Copper sulfate by X-41 can increase content by 7.5% and increase recovery by 3.98% of Lancang low iron marmatie, and the replace of Copper sulfate by X-41 can increase content by 5.48% and increase recovery by 4.18% of Dulong high iron marmatie.The mechanism of activating marmatite is reaserched. This reaserch is mainly on the crystal structure, the content of iron and Eh-pH change of low and high iron marmatite. This reaserch approves the upper conclusion in a academic way.The activator called X-41 applied in single froth tube test, lab test and a industrial test. It is one kind in view of the marmatite mineral extremely effective activator, also its activation under the low alkali condition, the cost also relatively is lower than Copper sulfate, may take one kind of substitution Copper sulfate the activator takes the application promotion.The present paper contained the flotation separation experiment and the fundamental research to the Lancang and dolong marmatite has yielded the certain result, will have the certain reference value regarding of marmatite the next production practice.